Of all the symbols of Russian apparel, none is more prominent than the ushanka hat. Instantly recognizable, this extremely comfortable and warm hat has become a fashion icon as of late. When most people think of Russia, the classic ushanka style hat is one of the first things that comes to mind...
Ushanka Hats
Whether the weather is chilly, or you just want to look good, the ushanka is the way to go. Seen on servicemen and woman, mail carriers, police officers, and any profession that's out in the cold a lot, if it's good enough to meet their needs, it will certainly meet yours.
The Russian word “ushanka” literally translates into English as “ear hat”. This style of hat has been around for many years to get people through the harsh Russian winters. In fact, people in the northern regions of eastern Europe also wore similar hats dating all the way back to the 1600's. Before this people wore fur hats of course, but the classic ushanka design that we all know today started appearing in art around the 1600's in Russia and in Germany. During the Russian Civil War of 1918, soldiers wore ushankas to protect them from the cold, and later the Red Army also issued ushankas to all of their field personnel. This style of hat has a long and colorful history in Russia.
The rest of the world quickly caught on and the ushanka has made its way into standard winter uniforms around the world including here in the USA. Today the ushanka is no longer standard issue for the Russian military. Instead, the ushanka has solidified its place in history and is now being embraced by a new generation of people who have come to appreciate this hat's practicality and appearance. Now people all over the world are wearing ushankas as a fashionable way to keep warm when the snow starts to fly.
